The family of Ram Narayan Baghel, a 31-year-old labourer from Chhattisgarh who was lynched by a mob at Attappallam, Walayar, on December 17, has launched a protest against the State government, accusing it of failing to stop the accused from obtaining bail.
Eight of the nine accused in the case were granted bail recently.
Ram Narayan’s brother Sasikanth Baghel said here on Monday that the government should move the High Court to seek cancellation of the bail, and also appoint a special public prosecutor to handle the case.
Supported by the Walayar Lynching Action Council, Mr. Baghel launched an indefinite agitation in front of the Collectorate here on Monday, pressing various demands, including government intervention to secure the cancellation of bail granted to the accused.
Mr. Baghel said the protest would continue until the government acted and made clear its position. He also demanded the immediate release of the ₹30 lakh compensation announced for Ram Narayan’s family after the incident escalated into a major issue.
Earlier, the Special Court for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Cases at Mannarkkad had granted bail to the accused — Anu Kallangad, 38; Prasad Mahalikkad, 34; Murali Mahalikkad, 38; Anandan Attappallam, 55; Vipin Attappallam, 30; Jagadeesh Kumar, 44; Shaji Mahalikkad, 38; and M. Rajesh, 31. The sixth accused, Vinod Kumar, was denied bail as his application was delayed.
Ram Narayan, a resident of Champa district in Chattisgarh, was lynched by a hysteric mob at Attappallam on December 17 afternoon, the fourth day after he reached Kerala in search of a job. Father of two children aged eight and 10, Ram Narayan was seized, interrogated and lynched by the mob that accused him of theft.
The nine persons were arrested under Section 103(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with mob lynching, along with the relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to police sources, a dozen more persons involved in the lynching were absconding.
Published – February 02, 2026 07:27 pm IST
